School: Corcaghan (roll number 16129)
- Location:
- Corcaghan, Co. Monaghan
- Teacher: F. Murray
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0953, Page 223
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- XML “Halloween”
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- Hallow'een is always on the last night of October, It is the vigil of all Saints, Children enjoy it very much because they have great fun. They play many games such as diving for an apple or cracking nuts in the fire. Young boys go about with false faces on them to the neighbours houses. Though they may not know of their coming still they enjoy their old Irish dances and comic songs. These young men are called "Mummers", the baker makes cakes and puts currants and also a ring in them and the grown up boys and girls watch to see who will get the ring. Lads in the town enjoy themselves shooting crackers and firing squibs. Hallow'een is a feast of simple things - nuts and apples - the best fruits of Autumn, In the country young men carry off gates and leave them at a cross road or in some public place. They also tie doors of peoples' houses and if the windows are small it is impossible for the people to get out ountil some neighbour comes and opens the door for them, On Holy Souls' night the people put on a good big fire and leave some food for the holy souls and chairs around the fire for them to sit on.(continues on next page)
